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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnergy Board - Minutes - 01/03/2013Energy Board Meeting Minutes January 3, 2013 1 Fort Collins Utilities Energy Board Minutes Thursday, January 3, 2013 Energy Board Chairperson City Council Liaison Ross Cunniff, 420-7398 Lisa Poppaw, 223-4136 Energy Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaison Barrett Rothe, 303-881-9683 Steve Catanach, 416-2622 Roll Call Board Present Chairperson Ross Cunniff, Board Members Peter O’Neill, Britt Kronkosky, Peggy Plate, Greg Behm, Stacey Baumgarn, and Margaret Moore Board Absent Vice Chairperson Barrett Rothe and Board Member Steve Wolley Staff Present Lisa Rosintoski, Brian Janonis, Jenny Lopez Filkins, Tom Rock, Lucinda Smith, and Harriet Davis Guests Rick Coen Meeting Convened Chairperson Cunniff called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. Public Comment None Approval of December 6, 2012 Minutes Board Member Moore moved to approve the minutes of the December 6, 2012 meeting. Board Member Kronkosky seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: Yeas: Baumgarn, Behm, Cunniff, Kronkosky, Moore, O’Neill, and Plate. Nays: None. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously. Recommendation on Oil and Gas Regulations/Moratorium on Extraction (Attachment available upon request). Chairperson Cunniff introduced the item. This item was presented to City Council in December 2012. Council voted to establish a moratorium at the December 18 meeting. Highlights from the discussion:  The board discussed drafting a memo to City Council outlining their concerns regarding the energy impacts of the technology and greenhouse gas accounting and impacts to Fort Collins energy goals. Energy Board Meeting Minutes January 3, 2013 2  The board would like City Council to consider action to account for carbon-based energy extraction within Fort Collins boundaries as part of the Climate Action Plan.  Customer Connections Manager Lisa Rosintoski suggested the memo could list suggested questions or concerns Council could consider as part of the decision making process on the topic. The memo should highlight these items and allow comment or research on the board’s concerns for consideration.  A board member asked if the City can ask the developer to offset the carbon emissions by installing solar on buildings or change vehicle fuels, for example. Can there be specific conditions as part of granting a permit?  A board member is in support of hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) because it may help the economy by reducing oil imports, increasing jobs, and reduce coal burning; however, he does not support hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) in urban areas.  A board member expressed concern about property values in areas where hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) could take place. The board discussed including the following questions and concerns in the memo:  There are concerns about the overall impact of increased extraction technologies on national carbon emissions.  There are concerns about the carbon impact of fugitive emissions, particularly methane. Can they be tracked, minimized, and accounted for in Fort Collins carbon goals? Can voluntary increased effectiveness of emissions capture be incorporated in the permitting process?  Are there voluntary climate impact remediation acts such as renewable energy production meeting or exceeding the carbon impact of production that Fort Collins could request from energy extraction companies as part of the permitting process?  Will the presence of extraction operations impact future land use, and therefore possibly increase Fort Collins overall energy use? Chairperson Cunniff proposed a friendly amendment to the motion. Vote on the motion: Yeas: Baumgarn, Behm, Cunniff, Kronkosky, Moore, O’Neill, and Plate. Nays: None. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously. Discussion on Review of City Energy Policy (Attachment available upon request). Ms. Rosintoski introduced the item. She provided a presentation to assist the board members in discussing the City Energy Policy and their recommendations to staff. Board Member Plate moved that the Energy Board submit the memo to City Council outlining their concerns for oil and gas development within the City of Fort Collins. Board Member Moore seconded the motion. Amended motion: Chairperson Cunniff will draft a memo and send to the board members for review. The memo will be approved at the February meeting. Board Member Plate seconded the motion. Energy Board Meeting Minutes January 3, 2013 3 Highlights from the presentation:  Fort Collins Utilities Foundation (Mission, Vision, and Values)  City Plan: Fundamentally based on Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO). This includes Economic Health; Environmental Health; Community and Neighborhood Livability; Safety and Wellness; Culture, Parks, and Recreation; High Performing Community; and Transportation.  Utilities for the 21st Century  Energy Board Ordinance: Council needs visionary and innovation advice regarding the community’s energy future as it relates to the City Plan, Climate Action Plan, Energy Policy, and Green Building Program.  City Plan Fort Collins Policies (Energy Policy 2009 and Energy Policy Goals)  Green Building Program  Next Actions (Facilitated discussion on memo to City Council for 2013 work plan and deliverables) Highlights from the discussion:  A board member asked how close the City is in meeting their energy efficiency goals. Utilities Executive Director Brian Janonis stated the City is close to meeting the goals.  The board members discussed utilizing other tools to meet the energy efficiency goals, including reviewing the policy and adding more aggressive goals.  A board member suggested more closely reviewing the energy policy either in board meetings or subcommittee meetings.  A board member suggested the board members should attend the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) meetings.  A board member feels Fort Collins should not be in a vacuum and there should be collaboration with other communities concerning the energy policy.  A board member would like staff to provide examples of opportunities in conservation.  A board member would like to incorporate the transportation and natural gas segments into the conversation also. Ms. Rosintoski will draft a scope of work for evaluating the 2009 Energy Policy. Once this is reviewed by the board, staff will then schedule topics and presenters for each board meeting. Recommendation on Climate Action Plan (Memo to Council) (Attachment available upon request). Environmental Sustainability Director Lucinda Smith stated the City is making progress on the carbon goals; however, she feels it would be beneficial for the Energy Board to revisit the goals and strategies. Highlights from the discussion:  A board member asked for more information on the City’s Energy Management Team. Ms. Smith stated this team was formed in 2000 when the first Climate Action Plan was formed. The team provides updated strategies and progress reports.  A board member feels the board should make a recommendation to Council to accelerate the review of the 2008 Climate Action Plan to compliment the review of the 2009 Energy Policy since the documents are aligned. Energy Board Meeting Minutes January 3, 2013 4  A board member asked for clarification on the Energy Policy and the Climate Action Plan. Mr. Janonis stated the Climate Action Plan was created before the revision to the Energy Policy. Staff’s goal with the Energy Policy was to support the Climate Action Plan.  Staff will draft a memo for the Energy Board’s review at the February meeting to present to City Council on the Energy Board’s support of reviewing the Energy Policy and Climate Action Plan simultaneously. Revisit the Energy Board Charter and Bylaws (Attachments available upon request). Chairperson Cunniff introduced the item. Highlights from the discussion:  The item is brought before the board because the board discussed having more independence regarding certain agenda topics on the work plan.  Council has directed staff provide the monthly agenda after consultation with the board chair. Assistant City Attorney Jenny Lopez Filkins stated a change to this would require Council action. The Energy Board would need to work with the Staff Liaison to make this change.  If an issue arises within the year that is not on the approved work plan, the plan can be modified and resubmitted to Council for approval to allow the board to address the issue.  The board members discussed the potential for liability with certain issues.  The board will not make any changes to the bylaws at this time. Discuss 2013 Agenda Planning Calendar (Attachment available upon request). A draft of the 2013 Agenda Planning Calendar was provided in the packet. Ms. Rosintoski outlined the agenda items for the board’s review. Highlights from the discussion:  A board member asked for updates on items from the Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) process and how these will integrate with the Energy Policy and Climate Action Plan.  The board would like to hear updates on some of the carryover items from the 2012 Agenda Planning Calendar. Staff Reports Ms. Lopez Filkins stated she has accepted a position within the City’s Finance Department. Deputy City Attorney Carrie Daggett will advise the Energy Board in her place. Board Member Reports None Other Business None Future Agenda Review This item was discussed in the agenda item listed above.